IAHCSMM to Offer Preconference Endoscope Reprocessing Workshop

The International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) will host a workshop on the subject of endoscope reprocessing on Saturday, April 23, 2016. This event, to be held in San Antonio, Texas, the day before the official kickoff of the 2016 IAHCSMM Annual Conference & Expo, will include an educational lecture and hands-on workshops to help attendees learn more about the steps involved in endoscope reprocessing. Workshop participants will also have the opportunity to ask additional questions and gather resources from industry experts.

“IAHCSMM developed this workshop in direct response to questions and concerns shared by the professionals responsible for flexible endoscope reprocessing,” said Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL, FCS, IAHCSMM Education Director. “Attendees will learn about flexible endoscope reprocessing challenges and examine ways to address those challenges. Several industry experts will participate in this event and will be available to provide valuable education and answer questions.”

The workshop will be offered in the morning (8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and also in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.), and will begin with an educational lecture by Cori Ofstead, MSPH, president and CEO of Ofstead and Associates. During her lecture, “Surviving in the Perilous World of Endoscope Reprocessing,” Ofstead will share findings from studies on the effectiveness of endoscope reprocessing, including her 2015 study that found damage and debris accumulated in 100 percent of endoscopes over a seven-month period. She will explain how contaminated cystoscopes, ureteroscopes, bronchoscopes and GI endoscopes have transmitted infections to patients in numerous healthcare facilities, and will discuss strategies for improving the quality of reprocessing on the front lines.

Following Ofstead’s lecture, two hands-on workshops will be offered:
• Transport and Cleaning of Soiled Endoscopes:  This lab will allow participants to learn best practices for the transport of soiled endoscopes, as well as proper leak testing and cleaning techniques.
• High-level Disinfection, Quality Assurance Testing and Storage of Endoscopes: This lab will address proper protocols for high level disinfection, quality assurance testing, and storage of endoscopes. This session will demonstrate proper protocols and provide an opportunity for participants to learn best practices for the HLD, QA testing and storage of endoscopes.

*Registration for the Endoscope Reprocessing Workshop is limited, and separate registration fees apply (full conference attendance is not required). Endoscope Workshop Pricing is $89 for IAHCSMM members and $99 for nonmembers. For more information about this workshop, or to register, visit: www.iahcsmm.org/annual-conference-expo/endoscope-reprocessing-workshop.html/.